Lions fly the stars and stripes again to replace stolen flag

Orchel Krier paid for new flag. First one was stolen from front of Veterans Building two weeks ago

By Doug KeelerMidway Driller Editor

Larry Robison had the pleasure and honor of raising the American flag back up the flag pole at the Taft Veterans Building Thursday morning.

Robison, a Vietnam veteran who is currently president of the Taft Lions Club, and one of the first on the scene when the flag was stolen on August 15.

He was there Thursday to raise the new one. It's four feet by six feet, larger than the flag it replaces.

Taft City Councilman Orchel Krier, himself a Lion, paid for the new flag.

The first flag was raised on Memorial Day by the Kern County Honor Guard with Supervisor David Couch, Krier and others in attendance.

Just who stole the flag – and why – may never be known.

“It's a shame somebody took that flag,” said Robison, who like many young Americans of his generation, joined the military and went to Viet nam to defend America. He served near Da Nang in 1968, one of the more dangerous places in the conflict.

He takes the theft of the flag very personally.

“I just hope I don't find them because I might end up in jail,” he said.

Cooper's True Value donated the tools the Lions needed to hang the new flag.